Ore-separator



(No Model.)

W. L. CARD.

ORE SEPARATOR.

No. 320,756. Patented June 23, 1885. y '17191,

N. PETERS mwumnlnpw. wlminmn. o. c

'on line 2 2, Fig. l.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

VILLIAM L. CARD, OF LA GROSSE, VISCONSIN.

ORE-SEPARATOR.

aPECIFliCATIN forming partof Letters Patent No. 320,756, dated .Tune 23, 1885.

Application filed July 3. 1884. (No model.)

T all whom it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. GARD, of La Crosse, in the county of La Grosse and State of Visconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Ore Separators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speciiieation, in which- Figure l is a top View of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 3 3, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 4 4, Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the water-gate and section of wallon line 5 5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a top view of the bed removed.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus for separating gold, Sac.; and it consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully de- Y scribed, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the outer wall or frame of the apparatus, forming a water-tower, B, and water-chambers B' B. The bottom or lower end, B3, of the tower is adapted to receive the mud that settles from the water, a partition, Bf, dividing this lower part of the tower from the chamber B. The tower is supplied with water by any suitable means-as, for instance, a hose, trough, or spout.

G represents a water-gate held against the front wall of the tower, inside, by cleats or strips C', and held to any adjustment by a setscrew, G2, so that any amount of water may be permitted to pass between the bottom of the gate and the top of the partition B*, as shown by featherless arrows, Fig. 2.

The front wall of the tower is provided with one or more cocks or valves, D. I have shown two, opposite which are slots or openings C3 in the water-gate, to permit water to pass, when the cocks are open, from the tower onto a combined working-table and screen, I and I', which should be slightly inclined, as shown in Fig. 2, and have a removable side extension, I2, sup ported by engaging the edge of the table and by a hinged brace, I3, the lower end of which iits in a socket made in a block, 1*, secured to the frame. (See Fig. 3.)

Above the water-chamber B', and beneath the table and screen I I', is an inclined table,

or partitions L, forming pockets LL for containing shot L5 or similar small heavy particles. This ore-bed is slightly inclined, resting on the inclined upper edges of strips M, and is held from slidingout by hooks N, pivoted to the frame A, engaging eyes or staples N' on the lower end piece of the bed. By disengaging the hooks from the staples the orebed can be taken out by simply sliding it down the strips M. It is above the waterchamber B2, the lower end piece, Ll, fitting against the frame A, forming a tight joint. The sides of the frame A extend above the ore bed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and they have cleats A', fitting over the sides, to prevent the upward movement of the ore-bed.

When the operation is stopped, the water can be drained from the chamber B' B2 by means of cocks or valves O, the gate C having first been closed, so as to prevent the escape of water from the tower.

The ore-bed is preferably wider at the lower than at the upper end to allow the material to spread out as it passes downward, and the openings in the bottom of the bed may be partly covered, if desired, by strips I), to diminish or decrease the flow of water through the bed. The water escaping from the tower beneath the water-gate passes up through the ore-bed, as shown by the arrows.

The operation is as follows: "Water being supplied to the tower, the gate C and cock or cocks D are opened, allowing the water to pass over, under, and np through the ore-bed, as described. The auriferons earth andgiavel is now thrown upon the extension Il, and pulled down by a suitable instrument onto the table I, where it is washed and handled, and the earth, sand, and gold then pass over and through the screen I', falling on the table J, from whence the water carries it onto the ore-bed, dropping it at the inside of each pocket from pocket to pocket, and there it encounters the material on the orebed, resembling a quicksand formed by the water {iowing up and meandering through the shot between the riffles, whereby the light foreign matter is lifted, floated, and gently carried oi IOO and discharged from the lower end of the bed, while the gold is deposited among the shot by its gravity. The inclination of the ore-bed causes the partitions to be inclined, and as the material in the pockets is level there is a drop or falling-off place at the inner side of` each pocket. The dropping of the auriferous material separates the heavier particles from the lighter ones and assists the operation.

I do not wish toiconfine/inyself to the use of shot alone in the ore-bed, as fine, heavy, sifted, and sized gravel would answer in many instances. The use of loose materialheavier than the material containing the gold, and which, while it allows the water to iiow through it upward under all circumstances, will still offer a greater resistance to its passage than the material being treated, and thus will form a moving mass resembling a quicksand out of the auriferous matter or material, and cause thc separation of the gold by its precipitation therein by gravity.

I nd in pract-ice that firreshot should be used to save [ine gold and coa-rse shot for coarse gold, and that the head of the water in the tower should be varied, as well as the depth of the shot in the ore-bed, for gold of different degrees of coarseness.

The great object to be accomplished is the formation of a flowing niass'or quicksand, and in order to obtain this a certain resistance is required in the ore-bed which will at all times allow the passage of the water; and to accomplish this object, and at the same time avoid all danger of the ore-bed becoming clogged, loose shot or its equivalent is used, being con'- tained in suitable pockets formed in the orebed. By varying the head of water in the tower or its passage beneath the gate and the depth of lthe shot and the height of the riffies I can adapt the machine to the elimination or separation of any kind of gold from any kind of earth or gravel and with a very small quantity of water, which is of great practical importance where gold is tine-and water scarce.

Byvmaking the ore-bed the widest at theV lower end the material will spread out where the force of the water through the bed decreases, thereby giving a uniformity throughout.

The gold falling through the ore-bed collects on the bottom of the chamber B2, from whence it can be removed by taking out the ore-bed and draining the water from the chamber, as described.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an ore-separator, the combination of a vsupport having inclined upper edges, a stationary ore-bed mounted in inclined position on the edges of the support and comprising a perforated bottom, L, side pieces, L, end pieces, L2, and partitions L, forming a series of pockets L4, shot or equivalent material in the pockets, a water-chamber beneath the bed, and means to cause an upward iiow of water through the chamber, the inclination of the bed causing the dropping of the auriferous material at the inside of each pocket.

2. The combination of a stationary and inclined ore-bed having a slotted bottom and a series of pockets, strips to vary the area of the bottom openings, shot or equivalent material in the said pockets, devices for delivering the auriferous material onto the ore-bed, a water-chamber beneath the ore-bed, and means to regulate the upward ow of water through the shot or equivalent material, as set forth.

3. rlhe combination of thewatertower provided with a partition at its` lower end forming a mud-chamber and a water-gate adjustably held against its front wall, chambers to receive the water from the tower, an ore-bed having a perforated bottom containing shot or equivalent material, and means for delivering the auriferous material onto the bed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the water-tower provided with a slotted adjustable water-gate and one or more cocks in its front wall opposite the slots in the gate, combined working-table and screen, table onto which the material falls from the screen, ore-bed, and chambers for the passage of water from the tower to the bed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. Ihe combination of the water-tower provided with a slotted adjustable water-gate and one or more cocks in its front wall opposite the slots in the gate, combined workingtable and screen, removable extension-table onto which the material falls from the screen, removable ore-bed supported on inclined strips, and chambers for the passage of water from the tower to the ore-bed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In combination with thewater-tower, gate, and chambers, the removable ore-bed, and means for delivering the auriferous material onto the ore-bed, said ore-bed having a per.- forated bottom to permit the precious metal to fall through into the chamber beneath, sub` stantially as set forth.

7. In combination with the water-tower, gate, and chambers, the removable tapering ore-bed, and means for delivering the auriferous material onto the ore-bed, said ore-bed having a perforated bottom and provided with strips to partly close the perforations, as desired, all arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The inclined removable ore-bed, increasing in width toward its lower end and consisting of side pieces, end pieces, perforated bottom, and rifles forming pockets containing shot or equivalent material, substantially as shown and described, for the purpose set forth.

VILLIAM L. GAR-D.

In presence of" A. STEINLEIN, J oHN E. NELsoN.

ITO 

